Background: Changes in temperature, rainfall and relative humidity due to climate change are expected to directly influence malaria transmission dynamics, by modifying the behavior and geographical distribution of malaria vectors while shortening the sporogonic cycle of the parasite in the vector. These changes will have varying effects on malaria incidence in different eco-epidemiological settings. The aim was to examine the impact of climate variability on malaria incidence in three micro-epidemiological ecosystems in the forest zone of Ghana, Ashanti Region. Methods: Data on climatic variables (rainfall, temperature and humidity) from January 2008 to- October 2009 were obtained from the two weather stations. Hospital based confirmed malaria incidence data were obtained for the same period from Akropong (rural) hospital whereas malaria incidence data were obtained from January 2008-June 2009 and January 2008-August 2009 for Emena (peri-urban) and Atonsu (urban) hospitals respectively. Microscopy was used to identify the predominant Plasmodium species. Spearman’s correlation analysis and cross correlation analysis that allowed a time-lag of 0-3 month were performed to examine the role of climatic variables on malaria incidence. Results: There was a direct correlation between monthly malaria incidence and monthly climatic variables at different time-lags and location. At every study site, different climatic variables were seen to play different roles on the occurrence of malaria. At Akropong and Emena, the study indicates that rainfall and minimum temperature are the major drivers of malaria incidence though this relationship was significant at different time-lags in different eco-epidemiological settings. At Atonsu, the study indicates that rainfall and maximum temperature are the major contributors to malaria incidence. Conclusion: Climatic variables have direct and indirect influence on malaria incidence and these variables can predict malaria incidence and be suited for forecasting the malaria occurrence in areas with similar ecological features in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

The organization of the nervous system has been documented for various helminth parasites. However, the ultrastructure of the brain of the carcinogenic liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini has not been described. This study therefore clarified the fine structure of the cerebral ganglia (brain) of this fluke using transmission electron microscopy. The cerebral ganglia of O. viverrini are composed of ganglion cell bodies and the bilateral lobe of neuropile with a tight packing of unmyelinated axon processes. The two lobes of the brain are connected together by transverse commissure. The neuropiles were insinuated by groups or bundles of giant axons and mesenchymal processes. Cells and axon processes of the O. viverrini brain were rich in tight accumulations of abundant neuronal mediator vesicles. Numerous synaptic contacts were present in the neuropile of brain and scattered in transverse commissure. The organization of the brain of this liver fluke brain was comparable to other trematodes.

Introduction- Maharashtra is a very large state of 300,000 km2, with a total population of around 97 million. The capital city of Maharashtra, Mumbai, is the most populous city in India, with around 14 million inhabitants. The HIV prevalence at antenatal clinics in Maharashtra was 0.5% in 2007. The state has the highest reported rates of HIV prevalence among female sex workers (18%). Similarly high rates were found among injecting drug users (24%) and homosexual men (12%). Pune is the second largest city in Maharashtra, with a growing population of more than 40 lakhs (4 million). It ranks among the top five HIV prevalent cities in the state. There are very few studies that have been carried out to compare the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV-reactive and non-reactive individuals in Maharashtra. Materials and Methods- Study Period- The present study was carried out from 1st December 2008 to 31st August 2010 in Pad. Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Pimpri, Pune. Results and Observations- In this study, stool samples of 490 individuals were processed, out of which 110 were HIV-positive and 380 were HIV-negative. Evaluation of 4 different stool concentration techniques was done in comparison with the direct wet mount microscopic examination. Out of all the stool samples examined, 100 of them were also processed using concentration techniques (by all methods). It was seen that using routine examination, only 6% of the stool samples revealed a positive finding, whereas using concentration techniques a maximum of 17% of the same samples were positive. Conclusion- Further, as demonstrated in our study, we can conclude that stool concentration techniques should be adopted, since in case of low parasite load, often the diagnosis is missed by carrying out only direct wet mount examination. Finally, to prevent intestinal parasitic infections, patients should be educated regarding maintenance of personal hygiene.

The tegumental spines around the attachment organs in four species of digenetic trematodes namely; Fasciola gigantica, Schistosoma heamatobium, Cynodiplostomum azimi and Aporchis massiliensis were evaluated with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDXA) for three chemical elements: sulphur, calcium and phosphorus at three regions of spine (tip, middle and base) and the average was recorded. Weight percent (wt %) of each chemical element for each digenean at different regions was recorded and analyzed for probability using SPSS computer program. The pattern of element distribution showed significant specific characteristics. In F. gigantica (distome type), sulphur had the highest concentration followed by calcium then phosphorous, in Aporchis massiliensis (echinostome type), calcium concentration was the highest followed by sulphur while phosphorous was completely absent. In S. heamatobium (shistosome type) and C. azimi (holostome type), which follow the same pattern, phosphorous had the highest concentration followed by sulphur then calcium. The functional significance of the variations in element distribution in different parts of the spines in diverse digenean types is most likely related to the habitat richness with these elements in addition to the ability of these digenean types to metabolize and make use of these elements.

The purpose of the present study was to add new 18S and 28S DNA gene sequences data to Sphaerirostris picae (Rudolphi, 1819) Golvan, 1960 and analyze the generated sequences to define the taxonomic placement of genus Sphaerirostris and providing a better resolution inside the Palaeacanthocephala. Two regions: 18S and 28S of nuclear ribosomal DNA of S. picae were amplified using polymerase chain reaction and sequenced following the instructions of GATC German company facility. Mealign module in the DNAStar Lasergene V7 was used to design a forward and reverse primer of 28S DNA gene. 18S and 28S DNA gene sequences of S. picae were aligned with sequences for both genes of Palacanthocephalans retrieved from GenBank. Results were analyzed using distance matrix methods UPGMA. The resulting phylogenetic trees suggest a paraphyletic arrangement of the two Palaeacanthocephala orders; Echinorhynchida and Polymorphida depending on the placement of the three echinorhynchids, Transvena, Rhadinorhynchus and Gorgorhynchoides in the polymorphid clade. The present study is the first to generate gene sequences of genus Sphaerirostris and discuss its relationships within Palaeacanthocephala. Further comprehensive studies should be done for other species of genus Sphaerirostris and family Centrorhynchidae as all based on molecular phylogenetic analysis to solve their taxonomic overlapping.